I'm putting together a free event for anyone interested in speaking with emergency management officials from various municipalities within Ontario. Originally I contacted Emergency Management Ontario. They felt it best that this event be held with officials on a municipal level.
Date: Sunday, April 14, 2013
Time: 2:00 pm
Cost: Free
Location: PM for details
Here are some additional details:
As a prepper it’s important to me to know how my local government will react to any given disaster. Are they prepared? What measures will they take in the event of disaster ‘X’? How are they reaching out to the community with respect to preparedness education? How do they feel and what do they expect from individuals that prepare?
This is a very unique event. It will include an open discussion which will connect people that are concerned about being prepared with municipal officials that specialize in emergency management and preparedness. Our guests include:
Jennifer S. - Emergency Management Coordinator, City of Toronto
Sonia S. - Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, City of Markham
Greg S. - Program Manager (Emergency Management) - Regional Municipality of York
(Commanding Officer at Canadian Armed Forces)
To give you a better understanding of the event that’s going to take place here’s a series of questions I initially posed to these officials as a means of clarifying what I would like to discuss:
What does the local governing body recommend for an individual or family to do in the event of disaster 'x'?
What does the local governing body suggest in terms of food stores for individuals or family?
How can individuals work closer with municipal government(s) in a way that benefits both parties in terms of preparedness?
What is the legality (if any) behind mass food stores locally?
Are there any negative connotations associated with 'preppers' and the Canadian government (compared to the USA)?
How do local governments intend on communicating in the event of a viral pandemic, blackout, emp, etc.?
How can individuals or families stay connected with a local governments course of action the event of disaster 'x'?
For more experienced 'prepper's what is the expectation (if any) of local governing bodies in the event of an event?
Under what conditions would the local governing bodies remove individuals from the home?
Under what circumstances would the local or federal government declare a 'martial law' of sorts?
Have questions of your own? Great! Email them to me or ask them directly at this event.
As a community member and/or prepper it might be a good idea to know exactly how your local government will react during a disaster. They’re here to help us and embrace the idea of community members taking such a strong role with respect to self-preparedness. This is a great opportunity to connect with local governments as a means of exchanging ideas and understanding their protocols – which will inevitably help you to better be prepared.
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Ontario Preppers Ontario Preparedness
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It sounds like a good idea but I would be careful not to give them any more ideas then they already have about certain items.
Ie: food, relocation, etc.
HTP
It sounds like a good idea but I would be careful not to give them any more ideas then they already have about certain items.
Ie: food, relocation, etc.
HTP
Not sure what you mean? More ideas on food and/or relocation in what respect? My personal plans? It's not going to be that type of event. Unfortunately I think our friends in the south have given the government/prepper relationship a bad image. I've spoken with officials and they're thrilled to see that individuals are self-conscious about this. These government individuals have nothing to gain personally with my information nor do they care to do so. This is the closest link a prepper can have to the government. Municipal > Prepper. They live in our communities. They'll be the ones directing/assisting in action plans in the event of a disaster. It only makes sense to me to know how I could potentially work with them. That doesn't mean I'm going to share the details of my personal 'stores' or give them a map for my bug out routes.
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There seems to be some hesitation from my members with respect to attending because of the stereotypes with American preppers and the American government. A few questions have been forwarded to me to ask our municipal friends.
If anyone has any questions for these Emergency preparedness officials feel free to post them here or pm them to me and I'll make sure that I'll get and answer for you.
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Sounds like an opportunity to find out what if any help local gov't can and will provide. I will try to attend, shut my mouth and listen. Then leave. I dont think Ill be required to provide ID or a name etc. This sounds like a one way conversation if thats what I want. And thats what I want.
TB
Sounds like an opportunity to find out what if any help local gov't can and will provide. I will try to attend, shut my mouth and listen. Then leave. I dont think Ill be required to provide ID or a name etc. This sounds like a one way conversation if thats what I want. And thats what I want.
TB
Lol, not like that at all. I've done events here in the past and know the manager quite well. It's in a casual atmosphere in a large private room. No one is required to 'sign-in' or provide ID. I wouldn't have created the event if that was the case. You can remain completely anonymous as I plan to be as well.
To my knowledge, it's the first event of it's kind in Ontario. A link between preppers and emergency management officials. You would think that people that are pushing the idea of being prepared to the public and have an understanding of just how unstable the system is would naturally be preppers themselves. That's one question I'll definitely be asking. But more importantly, I feel it's important to establish a rapport and open the lines of communication with these officials - they will inevitably be directing the public from a government standpoint in the event of an event. I think everyone would like to know what the expectation is. More importantly how does our government (here in Canada) feel about people like us and how is that different (or similar) from our friends in the USA?
Intelligent Survival Networking for Enhancing Knowledge and Resources
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While this is outside my travelling range, this is a great idea.
Why? Because it's never a bad idea to know what the levels of government plan to do in response to an event. It would not only enable one to plan around the plan, but to be able to prioritize and focus more on their preps. I also think it's as important to know what the response WON'T be doing as much as they will be.
For example, as it may be important to know to city folks in and around Toronto, in the event of a major snowstorm if the government is opening shelters what will they be providing? If I was so inclined (which I probably wouldn't be personally) to enter said shelter, I'd like to know whether I'd be required to bring sleeping gear or whatever.
Also having said that, if I was inclined to remain at home during such an emergency, what sort of support could I reasonably expect? We never ask these questions. And while I don't entirely believe that the levels of government are there to be our saviour and best friend, I do strongly believe it's in their best interest to restore and keep order as soon as possible. And we, as responsible citizens - until given good reason not to do so - certainly have some obligation to help in that endeavor as much as we individually can...with reasonable cooperation or manpower.
Runs With Scissors